The Dickinson press., 1887-07-09
MEN IN THEIR BONES.
WHERE THOSE THAT HANG IN
DOCTORS CLOSETS COME FROM.

Rather Inferior nuality-A Fine Sort
Articulatcd with Silver Plated Wire.
The doctor began to talk about skeletons.
He drew trade circular, issued by whole
sale dealer in surgical instruments and sup
plies, from his pocket. The circular con-
taincd an annual review of the surgical in
strunents and supplies market. Part way
down the neatly printed page appeared this
paragraph, which the doctor read:
skeletons have ruled firm and active
throughout the year, with prices unchanged.
We lave been able to supply the demand for
the common varieties promptly, but the
finger grades were scarce, and orders for de-
f"rmitirs could not always be filled Mt once.
| In this regard the market is still unchanged,
although our broker in Paris has orders to
buy everything offered at the usual rates"
The doctor read the paragraph much as
boys on the street cat ice cream out of the
penny gobets they buy of Italian vcnders,
that is slowly and with evident relish. When
he had finished it and folded the circular, ho
sail:
"'rhcre is no branch of the enormous i'm
port trade of the American people so interest,"
ing us the trade i'll skeletons, although its
magnitude and Importance are known to but
few. Not that its magnitude or value mako
it interesting; it attracts attention solely he
cause the article is i'll itself fascinating But
there are features of the trade that may not
escape the eye of the political economist. For
instance, this great nation of 60,OOO, 900 Of
people is wholly dependent OH foreign coun-
tries for its skeletons. Not but what n physi-
clan here and there may have specimen
which has been untimcly snatchcd from tho
country graveyard, hut the stock skeletons
of the country are all imported, and that,
top, simply because the paupcr labor of the
old world is able to string bones together for
less money than an American lahorer could
live and pay taxes on.
| ANATOMICAL KNOWLEDGE.
"Thc man who can put tho bones of tile
human frame together must be an anatomst;
| he must know, for instance, where tho collar
bone is located and what its functions are
No anatomiSt, not even n pauper anatomist
i'll the morg,le in Paris, would be SO foolish as
tn rest the butt of n gun obtaining four
dran,s of powder and nn ounce and Il quarter
of shot on his collar bone, and in that posi-
tion fire it. Collar bones were not made for
such use. Now, although possessed of so
much more knowledge than some sportsmcn,
Jhe Paris nlatomist is willing to work for n
franc Il day, and the capitalist who employs
him is thus enabled to sell skeletons at such
II low rate that even now fledged doctors in
| America cannot compete.
"Incrc,libc rs it may seem, n skeleton well
mounted and neatly packed i'll white pino
box can be had for the small sum of $50. Tho
box can bc stood on end, with tho skeleton
hanging from the top 10y q screw running
down through the skull. If tho box is covered
with rcd plush and lined with blue satin tho
simple packing case becomes neat, attrac-
tive and economical anatomical closet OF
course, most physicians prefer black wal
nut cabinet, with glass doors covered with
a red curtain, but that is u matter of taste,
not that l would recommend any ono to
purchase $50 skeleton unless for temporary
use They are not over substantial; they
cannot be polished up very nicely, and they
are npt to crumble. You see, the $50 skele.
tons urc taken from the corpscs of people well
advanced i'll life, like yourself, where the cal
careous matter predominates i'll tho bones.
Besides, some people havo bones that arc
naturally moro brittle than other peoples.
Tho anntomist i'll tho Paris skeleton factory
is abo to tell by the looks Of the subject Just
how far he may go i'll whitening the bones
for mounting, for the whitening process tends
to make tho bones more brittle than they are
naturally. The skeleton of n young person
whose bones are of the right quality will
stand q great deal of work, and great deal
of work, even ut a franc day, means an ell
HANGED price A first class skeleton will bring
Sl25, and at that figure it would be delight
to the profession, having silver plated wiro
articulations, and everything in style. Now
and then some man with an artistic taste in
such matters will have u skeleton mounted
with solid silver. Although not quito SO sub
stantial or we'll able to stand the rough usage
to which students subject such specimens, this
love of the beautiful ought by all means to be
encouraged.
AT MODERATE PRICES.
''rlle ordinary demand for skeletons is like
the demand in most branches of trade. Good,
substantial goods ut moderate prices are what
arc wanted. Well whitened bones articulated
with polished steel and packed in good cases
at from $50 to $40 are in such demand that
you couldn't find half n dozcn-no, nor q
quarter dozen-in the city at any one time,
except shortly after the arrival of French
line steamer, wien fresh importation might
increase the stock temporarily. Not less than
500 Of these skeletons are sold every year
right here in this city, where ull the import
ing houses ure located want to emphasize
the fact that the importing houses are located
in Boston both advertise skeletons of their
own importation, when the custom house re-
turns do not show any consignments of such
goods to either house. This attempt to take
away part of New York's prestige US u trade
center ought to be discouraged.
tin addition to this staple trade in medium
grade skeletons there is an increasing demand
for dc.ornitics. Your skeleton with two,
fractures of the collar bone, if perfectly
healed, would bring s. extra, but il ucconl-
panied by the certificate Of a reputable ply
sician like myself, stating how the bone was
broken, would bring $40 extra The added
price would be for tho certificate as much as
for any intrinsic value of your skeleton, If.
now, you We're afflicted with curvature OF
the spine, or if you were woman and th,
pclvis Of a novel and unusual shape,
your skeleton might, when we'll mounted,
Lcing as much as Sli5 or 800. There arc
cases Of deformities and abnormal growths
that are so remarkable as to make the skel,s.
ton OF the subject of even still greater value.
could imagine case very easily where
mans skeleton would be of much greater
value to his family than he ever was in his
life time.
Talking of skeletons reminds me that vet
erinary surgeons are getting to be remark
Amy "cu eulicilc't loL VI men, anu require
about the same appliances for study that
physicians like us do. There is a growing de-
nand for horse and dog skeletons Horse
skeletons arc kept i'll stock and sell for from
Sl25 to $50. There is no regular trade in
dog skeletons, but when u call comes tho
dealer has one made to order, and charges
according to the trouble. If you want one,
You can probably get it for S50."-New York
Sun.
swans eggs on toast is one of the latest
dshc: that have found favor among the epi-
cureans of Albany, N. Y.
All Paid Alike.